Preparing for an All-Nighter: How to Do it Right

We’ve all pulled an all-nighter every now and then. Well, to be honest, it’s probably more often than you’d like to admit. In fact, some gamers live the all-nighter life. But for many of us, it’s something we can only manage on the weekend. So, the next time you’re planning to stay up well past your bedtime, do yourself a favor and get yourself prepped the right way.

First things first, you need to make sure that you get enough sleep the night before, so sleep in as late as you can or take a tactical two-hour nap as late as possible. Trust us, you will thank yourself for this later and besides, taking a nap is good for you.

Next up, you’re going to need to make sure you have enough food and liquids for the night. Coke is the obvious choice for a drink, but you’re better off mixing it up a bit. Grab a few different kinds of soda for the sugar/caffeine rush, some orange juice and if you’re feeling really adventurous a can or two of iced coffee.

As for food, it’s easy to opt for the standard big bag of chips, but you’ll need something with a bit more sustenance if you’re going to make it through the night. Cereal is good, but that means you have to get up to get the milk from the fridge and you want to minimize movement from your chair as much as possible. Your best bet is to make a couple of sandwiches, grab a few bars of chocolate (energy food) and that monster bag of chips. If you have the time and the inclination, order a massive pizza instead of the sandwiches and let that bad boy sit in the box all night. Cold pizza when the 3 a.m. hunger pangs kick in is like eating a slice of heaven.

With all the food and drink sorted (do we have to tell you that you need a cool box by the PC?) next up is peace and quiet. You do not want to be interrupted by anyone during your all-nighter, so turn that phone off, disconnect the doorbell, pull the curtains and leave a status update on social media saying you’re out of town for the weekend. And if anyone calls to the door, just pretend you don’t hear them. Nothing upsets the balance of the perfect all-nighter more than a friend popping by and laying waste to all your plans by drinking your soda and eating your pizza.

So, you’re almost ready, but there are a couple more bases to cover.

Comfort. Socks, hoodie, slippers, hat, whatever it takes to get you comfy, make sure you’re either wearing it or that it’s within easy reach. And don’t worry about what you look like if your camera is on. Who cares? Half the world plays in their underpants anyway.

Now we shouldn’t have to say this, but we will anyway. Doublecheck if your PC is updated, your email client is logged out (no interruptions) and your controller is working. Basically, you want to be 100% sure that nothing can go wrong. Oh, and by the way, did you pay the power bill?

Once all that is sorted, you’re pretty much ready to get started. But before you jump in your gaming chair and crack open that first can of soda, it’s time to get your mind in the right place. Now some folks like to meditate while others like to take a run. But we’ve got a way better idea. It’s not really ours, but we’re stealing it anyway. Gaming is all about focus, and we’re loving Usain Bolt and Kevin Hart’s approach to keeping your cool. For sure, this will wake you up and get the blood pumping.

Yeah, we’re thinking you probably won’t do that though, so the next best thing is to take a shower and relax a bit. And once your head is in the right place, it’s time to pull the curtains, dim the lights, lock the door and get comfortable. You, my friend, are now ready for the perfect all-nighter. Game on.